If you ask me, man caves are some of the most fun spaces to decorate in the whole home. Big or small, in a man cave dude decor reigns supreme, and there’s a little more wiggle room to just have fun, rather than to try to make sure everything matches and is on trend and easy to use. Man caves are one of the few places you can go all-out with a theme and just make the space you want to be in. Bars are often a main component of man caves, and an excellent example of what I’m talking about: while in a shared entertainment space you might want something simple, sleek, and modern, in a man cave you can really have some fun and indulge in a theme.
Not sure what I mean? I’ll start big, with this fantastic little red corvette bar. It’s sassy, it’s fun, and it’s definitely a statement piece that can easily command an entire room. At about 67 inches wide, it’s compact enough to work in a small space, but not so small as to be impractical to use. Perfect for an old muscle car enthusiast or as part of a retro 1950s drive-in themed space, this piece is probably something you wouldn’t put in a main living space, but that’s a great fit for a man cave.
Of course, not all home bars have to be quite so bold. In fact, just a little old world flair can go a long way. Man caves often feature lots of dark wood in deference to the gentleman’s parlors and libraries, and a beautifully made wood bar is the perfect way to add a touch of masculinity to your space. This bar is made of a lighter wood with dark mahogany toned insets, but has a really nice old West, saloon style feel to it that makes it feel both rugged and sophisticated, and enough glam to match an old fashioned movie theater style.
For the serious, dedicated bartender, you want to look for a bar that has plenty of storage, even if it isn’t particularly large. A wine rack might be nice in the kitchen, but in a man cave you want the space and equipment to really mix some drinks. I’m personally partial to this Tuscany bar, which not only has gorgeous woodwork on the front, but fantastic usable space on the back. There’s room to store wine and liquor bottles, stemware, mixing equipment, and even a built in ice bucket, while still leaving plenty of counter space to work. At a little over 70 inches, it’s hefty without being huge, and a great way to give your man cave that authentic bar feel.
For smaller man caves that are limited on space, look for multipurpose bars like the one above. This more petite bar only seats two, but comes with multiple interchangeable tops, including not only a flat bar top, but green felt tops designed for a rousing game of blackjack, roulette, or craps. Essentially, these are really high quality three-in-one game tables. During ordinary use, they have a sleek wood top, but quickly and easily swap to one of the three game surfaces, allowing your man cave to double as a private casino, and giving you a chance to play dealer as well as bartender for a boy’s night in.
Even if you opt for a relatively ordinary looking wood bar, you’re still left with a whole world of opportunity for creative design in the form of the bar stools. If you know where to look, bar stools come in an absolutely spectacular variety of designs, far above and beyond the standard four legs and a cushion top. Take, for instance, the stool above, made of a leather saddle set on a decorative post. Line a few of these up in front of a long bar and you’ve got an instant Western theme, not to mention a couple pretty comfortable chairs.
I’ll confess, I saved my favorite for last. If you’re looking for a themed bar chair, you really can’t beat this trio of ‘gators for eye-catching and conversation starting. Even paired with a totally ordinary bar, these make a sassy statement piece that would work equally well with a hunting theme, a boating/fishing theme, or just a good old fashioned, down-south watering hole style.
Man caves are meant to be fun spaces free from traditional housekeeping etiquette. So when you’re shopping for new bar furniture – or really any piece of furniture – feel free to go a little wild and opt for bold statement pieces (or furniture that’s just a little bit silly or showy) to get a look you’ll love. What kind of theme do you have in mind for your man cave?
